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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think this is never going to end and we shouldn’t have to pay for these trees

152 replies

OVAgroundWOMBlingfree · 15/05/2019 10:35

My MIL is always sending off for things from the back off the Sunday supplements. Recently she sent off for a set of 3 fruit trees for us, ideal for growing in pots on a patio apparently. How lovely, very kind.

The trees turned up about a month ago. We buy pots and compost, plant them and get on with our lives. The following week a letter arrives from the plant company. They couldn’t accept MIL’s cheque because she had made an amendment to something or other on the cheque.
We phone them up, ask to pay by card but nope that’s not possible. We send them a cheque with details both in letter and on the back of the cheque explaining the problem.

A week or so later another set of 3 fruit trees turn up. I phone them to explain the problem, again they won’t accept card. MIL is staying at the time, and says she’ll have them as our trees look so nice and sends off a cheque the second she gets home - again explaining the problem.

This morning another set of bloody fruit trees arrive. I phone them up, they can’t accept returns of live plants, they want a cheque.

AIBU to think I am now forever stuck in a loop of receiving fruit trees? Should I just stick them on Freecycle and never give it a second thought? Do I have to send yet another cheque? Am I being haunted by cut price trees?

OP posts:
plominoagain · 16/05/2019 18:26

Maybe they've got confused and sent you someone else's trees . You never know , someone out there might just be pine-ing for them .

Petalflowers · 16/05/2019 18:34

This thread keeps growing and growing.

Mummytoonlychild · 16/05/2019 18:50

Shamelessly place marking I'll have a tree if there going lol

GabsAlot · 16/05/2019 18:50

Enjoying the puns but who only accepts cheques these days

Whisky2014 · 16/05/2019 18:57

If they asked for a cheque id have said "what trees? We didn't receive any trees"..

Shadow1234 · 16/05/2019 18:58

This saga is taking up a tree-mendous amount of your time OP.
Wonder if they've 'twigged' on yet that you mean business!
Hope you get to the 'root ' of the problem!!
Can't wait to see the outcome - good luck.

Stoic123 · 16/05/2019 19:00

Charge them rent for patio space for their trees (& maintenance fees for watering)?

ColchesterElderly · 16/05/2019 19:16

I wouldn’t have sent them the cheque the first time! I wouldn’t even bother writing a letter now. Maybe if they get back in touch. But no company these days would send out goods before seeing if a cheque cashed or not.

purplebunny2012 · 16/05/2019 19:49

If they are refusing to collect or accept a return, I'd simply refuse to pay as they were not ordered

MrsBadcrumble123 · 16/05/2019 20:58

AIBU to think I am now forever stuck in a loop of receiving fruit trees?

Now that’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear Grin can you refuse delivery?? Tell them they’ll have to collect the third delivery as it’s their mistake?

MummasTheWord · 16/05/2019 22:24

I would report that to trading standards...so dodgy!!! Who in this day and age usually use cheques still? The elderly. Who are those ads probably aimed at? The elderly. Who is likely to think they made a mistake and ordered two lots, think they must have forgotten they ordered two lots, be easily pressurised to paying again or likely to feel worried and send another cheque so not get into trouble? The elderly. I think this might be a dodgy sales tactic!

MummasTheWord · 16/05/2019 22:28

I should be a detective ! Just did a quick Google!! Please report the company as could well be the same scam: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6915731/Pensioner-dementia-ripped-70-000-dodgy-tree-loppers-exploited-illness.html

MummasTheWord · 16/05/2019 22:30

Not exactly the same situation of course - but targeting the elderly as they are likely not to protest or think they must have forgotten and ordered twice.

MummasTheWord · 16/05/2019 22:38

Of course it might just be a very ‘old company’ and Gilbert (aged 96) in sales and Mildred (aged 98) in accounts are just not on the ball anymore lol!

Cotswoldmama · 16/05/2019 22:43

This sounds like a job for Joe Lycett 🤣

Shelvesoutofbooks · 16/05/2019 22:54

I agree that this sounds like a scam - they are trying to rip you off on purpose. Email the threat to Channel 4 and Joe Lycett 😂

Shelvesoutofbooks · 16/05/2019 22:54

Thread*

RedHatsDoNotSuitMe · 16/05/2019 23:07

Oh god, I had this with a colour changing alarm clock I received as an apology for a cook book being out of stock

I really, really REALLY want a colour changing alarm clock misses the point of the thread, but all the good tree puns have already been used

Nanny0gg · 17/05/2019 08:24

Have you not Cancelled the Cheques yet?

badlydrawnperson · 17/05/2019 09:18

I thought this was going to be about Brexit.

Beautga · 17/05/2019 10:42

They are barking up the wrong tree keep them than give them away as gifts if they keep coming.Everyone will think how green you are

squooz · 17/05/2019 10:49

Ooh yeah get Joe Lycett on to them he’s so funny with this stuff Grin

Qweenbee · 17/05/2019 12:00

Tree-mendous thread.

Inkstainedmags · 25/05/2019 17:28

I have been rooted to the spot wondering happened next, OP. Please don't leaf us in the dark.

Petalflowers · 25/05/2019 21:45

Have you conker-ed the situation yet?

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